NBA free agents rumors suggested that the Minnesota Timberwolves offered a maximum deal to Eric Bledsoe, while general manager Milt Newton said that they have no plans to offer an extension to Ricky Rubio at this point.
Bledsoe, who is one of the top free agents available on the market, previously turned down a four-year, $48 million deal from the Suns as he is looking for a maximum deal.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported on Friday that the Timberwolves offered a maximum deal to the free agent guard in the hopes of acquiring him before training camp.
Sources indicated that the Timberwolves tendered a four-year, $63 million deal to Bledsoe, who averaged 17.7 points to go along with 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.
However, the Timberwolves have no salary cap space to sign Bledsoe outright, which means that they have to convince the Suns to strike a sign-and-trade deal to acquire the former Kentucky standout.
According to the NBA free agent rumors, the Timberwolves are determined to acquire Bledsoe because they believe that the 24-year-old would be a perfect running mate to their newly-acquired players.
The Timberwolves recently acquired Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young and Anthony Bennett in the trade that sent Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers late last month.
Timberwolves' interest in Bledsoe raised questions about the future of starting point guard Ricky Rubio in Minnesota.
The Spanish point guard, who averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 assists per game last season, could become a restricted free agent next summer if the Timberwolves fail to sign him to a contract extension until Oct. 31.
Rubio, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, recently said that he is looking to sign a contract extension. However, general manager Newton said that they have no immediate plan to secure the Spaniard's future in Minnesota.
"We're going to look at the situation the same way we did with Kevin Love," Newton said in the NBA free agents rumors update. "We're going to do the best thing for the organization, and if we can get something done sooner, great. If not, we're not necessarily in a rush."
